In the following passage, there are blanks each of which has been numbered.…
2024
In the following passage, there are blanks each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each five words have been suggested, one of which fills the blanks appropriately.
Recently the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) released separate reports on poverty. The World Bank _____(1)_____ its benchmark of extreme poverty by 25 cents from $ 1 per person per day to $1.25 per person a day. The ADB announced an even _____(2)_____benchmark of $1.35 per person a day. These new benchmarks are based on surveys in the world’s poorest countries. Experts often like to claim that poverty has declined because of economic growth in India and China. This is wrong and _____(3)_____ In the past twenty – five years the poverty rate in India has _____(4)_____by less than one – percentage point a year. Whether we use a poverty line of $1 per person per day or $1.25 per person per day makes little difference. The number of poor in India is large. The purpose of these statistics is not to dispute them but to _____(5)_____ whether the benefits of economic growth are being shared with the poor
Find out the appropriate word in case 2
- A.
better
- B.
significant
- C.
plausible
- D.
higher
Attempted by 288 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Answer: 'higher' is correct.
Explanation: The World Bank raised its benchmark of extreme poverty by 25 cents from $1.00 to $1.25 per person per day, and the Asian Development Bank announced a benchmark of $1.35 per person per day. The sentence requires a comparative adjective that indicates a larger numerical amount for the ADB benchmark compared to the World Bank's revised benchmark.
Why 'higher' fits: 'Higher' directly describes that one numeric benchmark is greater in amount than another.
Why 'better' does not fit: 'Better' refers to improved quality or condition, not to a larger numeric value.
Why 'significant' does not fit: 'Significant' means important or considerable, but it does not explicitly state that the benchmark is numerically larger.
Why 'plausible' does not fit: 'Plausible' means believable; it does not describe magnitude or a comparative increase.
Note: The original solution incorrectly identified a different word as the correct choice. This explanation clarifies that the appropriate word in the passage is 'higher' and explains why the other options are unsuitable.